Indore's Poisoned Water Tragedy: The 11 Lives Lost, From 6-Month-Old To 75-Year-Old

Indore's diarrhoea outbreak linked to contaminated drinking water has claimed 11 lives, cutting across age groups - from a six-month-old infant to a 75-year-old man - reflecting the scale of the public health crisis triggered by contaminated water supply.The deceased have been identified as:Gomti Rawat, 50Urmila Yadav, 69Tarabai, 70Uma Kori, 32Seema Prajapat, 50Manjula, 60Nandlal Pal, 75Santosh Biloliya, 27Abhiyan, 6 monthsArvind Likhar, andGeeta BaiLocal officials said the deaths were linked to a diarrhoea outbreak caused by contaminated drinking water supplied through the Narmada pipeline. Indore councillor Kamal Waghela confirmed that two more people died on Thursday night, while compensation cheques have already been issued to the families

of the first eight victims.

Lab Tests Reveal Bacterial Contamination

Laboratory tests of water supplied to Bhagirathpura, the epicentre of the outbreak, have revealed alarming contamination levels.Officials said samples tested positive for fecal coliform, E. coli and Klebsiella bacteria - organisms known to cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea.Sources added that some samples also showed traces of Vibrio cholerae-like elements, bacteria associated with cholera. Around 80 water samples have been tested so far, with detailed laboratory reports expected within the next one to two days.

How Sewage Entered the Drinking Water Line

Health authorities said the contamination occurred after sewage water seeped into the main drinking water pipeline due to a leak near a police check post in Bhagirathpura.Officials suspect that waste from a toilet at the police outpost was diverted into a pit instead of being connected to the sewage network, allowing sewage to mix with the water supply.

Over 1,400 Fall Ill

Indore's Chief Medical and Health Officer said residents began reporting to hospitals earlier this week with complaints of vomiting, diarrhoea and high fever. More than 1,400 people have fallen ill so far.Health department teams conducted door-to-door surveys in over 1,700 households, examining more than 8,500 residents. While several patients with mild symptoms were treated at home, over 200 people remain admitted to hospitals across the city, including several in intensive care units.

Repair Work Completed

District authorities said repair work on the affected pipeline has been completed and water supply restored after inspection. However, residents have been advised to boil water before consumption as a precaution. Fresh samples have also been sent for testing.Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those who died. The state government is also working on a standard operating procedure for drinking water infrastructure across Madhya Pradesh to prevent similar incidents in the future.(With bureau inputs)